How To Take Tums While Pregnant

October 11, 2022

How Do I Treat Heartburn During Pregnancy

TUMS and Pregnancy | TUMS

When youre growing a human being, you dont have time for that yucky acid reflux. But your usual go-to methods for treating it may not be safe for your unborn baby.

Instead, here are some of the safest and best ways to get rid of heartburn when youre pregnant:

Dip into some yogurt. Its probiotics and soothing texture make yogurt a great option for extinguishing heartburn or at least dousing the flames a little.

Drink milk with honey. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a tablespoon of honey mixed in a glass of warm milk may be just what you need to neutralize heartburn-causing acid.

Snack on almonds. Munching on a handful of almonds may provide heartburn relief since these nuts have a lower acidity level than others.

Eat pineapple or papaya. For some women, the digestive enzymes in pineapple and papaya have helped ease symptoms. Eating these fruits after your meals can aid digestion and reduce your chances of heartburn.

Try a little ginger. You probably knew ginger was a good remedy for an upset stomach. Well, that makes it a helpful candidate for fighting off heartburn, too. Among gingers many benefits, it can reduce inflammation and prevent stomach acid from traveling up the esophagus.

Chew sugar-free gum. Another effective method for taming the burn is to chew some sugar-free gum. One study found that chewing sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after a meal can reduce acid reflux.

Ideal Dosage Of Tums During Pregnancy

You may take two to four tablets of Tums every two hours to get the needed relief from heartburn . However, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking any antacid. Also, always maintain a gap of at least two hours between taking an antacid and iron supplements to derive maximum benefits from both the medicines.

Taking Antacids With Food Alcohol And Other Medicines

Its best to take antacids with food or soon after eating because this is when youre most likely to get indigestion or heartburn.

The effect of the medicine may also last longer if taken with food.

Antacids can affect how well other medicines work, so do not take other medicines within 2 to 4 hours of taking an antacid.

You can drink alcohol while taking antacids, but alcohol can irritate your stomach and make your symptoms worse.

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How Should It Be Used

Take Tums exactly as directed. Do not take more of it or take it more often than recommended by your healthcare provider. When using this medicine as a dietary supplement, take it with food or following meals.

The correct dosage of Tums per day will depend on the product strength, and on your needs. Follow the directions on your prescription or package label carefully, and ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Chewable tablets should be chewed thoroughly before being swallowed do not swallow them whole. Drink a full glass of water after swallowing. Some liquid forms of calcium carbonate must be shaken well before use.

Do not take Tums as an antacid for more than two weeks without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Other Ways To Reduce Heartburn While Pregnant

This is why you shouldnt overdo the antacids during pregnancy

You might already know these things, but not everybody does, so here we go:

Spicy, greasy, acidic foods tend to trigger heartburn

Chocolate, peppermint, and caffeinated beverages are also culprits
Eating small meals makes it easier to avoid heartburn
Not drinking with meals can also prevent acid reflux

Skipping your bra and loosening tight clothing helps
Try not to lie down for at least 2 to 3 hours after eating

And if all those tricks fail, here are the best antacids to take during pregnancy:

The best antacids during pregnancy	Highlights
H2-blocker that reduces inflammation is often used to treat ulcers Prevents excess acid in the stomach Relieves heartburn all day or all night

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Alternatives To Tums: What Can You Take To Treat Heartburn During Pregnancy

While you can take tums during pregnancy, the following are some medical alternatives to Tums that you should discuss with your doctor:

Magnesium hydroxide, for example, is available over the counter.

H2 blockers are heartburn medications that are safe to take during pregnancy.
Sucralfate , a coating agent and prescription medication for heartburn relief.

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Here are some things you need to be careful about, if you do take Tums when pregnant:

While talking to your doctor about taking Tums, make sure you get the dosage right. There is a good chance that the dosage you need to take now is different from the dosage you would have taken when not pregnant. Try to keep track of how many tablets you should take in a day, and do not exceed the dosage under any circumstance. Always consult your doctor for any change that you might want to make, for example, if youre feeling like the medicine isnt really working.
Now that you know these has a large amount of calcium in it, do not start thinking of it as a sort of calcium supplement, because it isnt. Upping the dosage of it during your pregnancy because your body requires more calcium will do more harm than good. Instead, focus on adding more calcium rich foods to your diet. If your body is still falling short on calcium, get your doctor to prescribe some calcium supplements.
Tums is a serious no-no for anyone with kidney problems. Even if you dont have any kidney problems but have been placed on high risk for chances of developing them, you must stay away from Tums. This is because the calcium present in Tums could lead to stones forming in your kidneys.

Tums could possibly lead to teratogenicity. If taken in the first trimester, it could potentially lead to a condition known as teratogenicity .

Additionally, Tums could also cause the following side effects during pregnancy:

Do Antacids Cause Side Effects

The extra calcium from calcium carbonate antacids can cause gas, bloating, or constipation in some people. Antacids can also affect how well you absorb other medications, like iron supplements. Ask your pharmacist to check for interactions and space calcium carbonate antacids 1 to 2 hours apart from other medications when needed.

If You’re Taking Prescription Medicines

Pregnancy Heartburn: Causes, Symptoms, and Foods that Help

Speak to your GP if you’re taking medicine for another condition, such as antidepressants, and you think it may be making your indigestion worse. They may be able to prescribe an alternative medicine.

Never stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you’re advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who’s responsible for your care.

What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, your bodys hormone levels experience changes. Some may act as a muscle relaxant that helps to prepare your body for childbirth. The downside? The increase of some hormones may also relax the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. That’s the valve responsible for keeping stomach acid from moving up into the esophagus, where it doesn’t belong. If the acid moves into that area, it can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.2

As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, there may be more pressure on your stomach. This too can push the acid in your stomach past the LES and back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

The good news is that heartburn will likely stop for most women after they give birth. If you have heartburn while pregnant, however, you may be at an increased risk of having heartburn later in life.

What Can I Take For Pregnancy Heartburn Besides Tums

Women often wonder if there is anything they can do to prevent or minimize the chances of the unpleasant experience of heartburn during pregnancy. Luckily for expecting mothers, there are a number of small lifestyle modifications that can help.

Remain upright after eating: Sitting up or standing lets gravity do some of the heavy lifting to keep reflux at bay. If you need to lay down, try propping your torso and head up with some pillows.

Eat smaller meals: Smaller meals digest more quickly, lowering the likelihood of heartburn and reflux.
Limit spicy and acidic foods: While this might be a tough sell for anyone with pregnancy cravings for acidic foods like citrus, tomatoes, or chocolate, it should come as no surprise that acidic foods can aggravate the stomach.
Limit greasy/fried foods: Similar to acidic foods, greasy and heavily fried foods can also cause GI upset. The fat content in these foods can also slow digestion, which can cause reflux symptoms.

Tums also isnt the only brand on the market. Other popular brands that offer calcium carbonate antacids include Mylanta, Alka-Seltzer, and even store/generic brands. Pepto-Bismol and Maalox are also antacids, though use different active ingredients.

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Is It Safe To Take Antacid While Pregnant

An antacid syrup can help provide instant relief against heartburn and acidity during pregnancy. In fact, syrups are preferred over antacid tablets while pregnant as the syrup variety can readily dissolve and work faster. The majority of antacids that are available are safe to be consumed. However, there are some which can be quite dangerous and even lead to a miscarriage. The key is to have antacids in moderation and get your doctors approval.

How Do Antacids Work

The stomach is responsible for breaking up food into digestible substances which can be absorbed by the intestines. However, there are instances where there is an imbalance in the production of stomach acids that can lead to discomfort. Antacids are used to regulate this imbalance and help restore balance in the digestive system.

Sleep With Your Head And Chest Elevated A Bit

Many people with acid reflux swear by their “bedges,” wedge-shaped pillows that gently slant your upper body upwards to keep stomach acid where it belongs.

And there’s no need for buying a pricey special product, Dr. Richter says. “You can get these at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond for about $25,” he says. We like the Boppy Pregnancy Wedge .

How To Take Tums While Pregnant Safely

Despite being safe for pregnant mothers, Tums can still be harmful if not consumed correctly. The key is to avoid overconsumption, over 2,500mg a day. If Tums are unavailable, search for other calcium-carbonate-based antacids, as some other types may not suit pregnant mothers. Monitoring iron levels can be important too.

Tums Are Not Candies

Tums are chewable antacids, and to make chewing the tablets a more pleasant experience, sugars and flavoring are added to them. You can choose from Tums with sugar, sugar-free, and in multiple flavors such as berries and orange. You can even choose from chewable tablets to soft chew cubes, similar to gummies.

However, it does not mean you want to treat it like candy, which means you do not want to consume it unless you have symptoms that require antacids.

This fact is confirmed by Haleon Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Tums. Its website advises that pregnant individuals should limit themselves to a maximum of 15 Tums regular strength 500 within any 24-hour period.

That translates into 7,500mg a day. You might consider following the recommendations as overconsumption of calcium carbonates can cause kidney stones, blood PH increase, nausea, and vomiting. This may harm you and your baby.

Calcium-Carbonate Antacids When Possible

This is because there are many types of antacids out there, such as those with:

Magnesium Hydroxide e.g., Milk Of Magnesia, Gelusil

Aluminum Hydroxide e.g., Mylanta

Bismuth Subsalicylate e.g., Pepto-Bismol

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Why Treat Heartburn And Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

Heartburn and acid reflux are traditionally considered innocuous because they are common in pregnancy and are usually self-limiting. However, a recent study suggests that GERD is associated with an increase in the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy , which can have serious negative effects on a womans quality of life.10 In a prospective cohort study conducted by the Motherisk Program, 194 pregnant women with NVP and heartburn or acid reflux were compared with 188 pregnant women with NVP who did not have heartburn or acid reflux. The 2 groups were assessed for severity of NVP with the pregnancy-unique quantification of emesis and nausea score, which is a validated scoring tool based on frequency and duration of nausea, vomiting, and retching in the past 24 hours, with a high score indicating more severe NVP. Quality of life was measured by the well-being score, with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best. Forty-eight percent of women in the control group had severe NVP according to the PUQE, compared with 75% in the group with heartburn and acid reflux. The mean well-being score in the control group was significantly higher than that in the group with heartburn and acid reflux .11

Appropriate Pregnancy Digestion Remedies

Pregnancy Tips : How to Avoid Heartburn While Pregnant

Lifestyle and diet management: Altering your diet or adjusting your lifestyle should be the first thing you try when looking to manage your heartburn during pregnancy. From changing your sleeping position to altering your diet, there are many ways to help alleviate pain.1,2,3
Antacids: Antacids are an option for heartburn relief during pregnancy when used as directed.1,2,3 You should check with your doctor about appropriate antacid options and use, if you experience heartburn during pregnancy. In fact, for up to 50 percent of pregnant women, an antacid is all they need to ease heartburn symptoms. However, pregnant women should talk to a doctor or pharmacist about the need to avoid antacids containing sodium bicarbonate.

While antacids have been used in pregnancy, there are other treatments for heartburn that may not be appropriate during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you should speak to your doctor prior to using heartburn treatments, such as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors . When in doubt, talk to your doctor about the right heartburn relief treatments for you.

For more information on heartburn and other digestive issues, visit the TUMS site.

References

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Can I Take Antacids While Pregnant

What medications are safe to take during pregnancy? Over-the-counter antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, and Maalox may help you cope with occasional heartburn symptoms. Those made of calcium carbonate or magnesium are good options. However, it may be best to avoid magnesium during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Can You Take Heartburn Medicine While Pregnant

Tums and Alka Seltzer are two brand-name, over-the-counter medicines frequently used to treat heartburn. Can you take Tums while pregnant? Can you take Alka Seltzer while pregnant? What should pregnant women know about heartburn and the medicines used to treat it? First and foremost, more than half of all pregnant women say they have symptoms of severe heartburn. Heartburn causes a burning pain in the chest and upper abdomen, and it can be a symptom of whats called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Heartburn seems to be most common during the second and third trimesters. Heartburn is a burning sensation which is caused by contents of the stomach that moves back upward. Severe heartburn can be incredibly uncomfortable and can create complications in severe circumstances. Medical professionals and researchers believe that heartburn is so common during pregnancy because of the changes in hormones that occur. Hormonal changes can affect digestive tract muscles and also food tolerance. Its also possible that hormones related to pregnancy can cause part of the stomach muscles to relax which allows more stomach acids to move into the esophagus. An enlarged uterus may also play a role by pushing stomach acids upward.

Do you or someone you love have questions or concerns about a pregnancy and dont know where to turn for help? Get support and answers at theAmerican Pregnancy Association at 1-800-672-2296.

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Are Tums Bad To Take While Your Pregnant

Are TUMS bad to take while your pregnant? When taken correctly, Tums is safe to use during pregnancy. Like any other prescription or over-the-counter drug medicine, the dosage and frequency of Tums should ideally come from your doctor. That said, there are some general guidelines to follow when using Tums for heartburn during pregnancy.

Can you take Tums during pregnancy for heartburn and nausea? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or heartburn is a common trigger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Because of normal pregnancy changes, pregnant women are more likely to get heartburn even if they have never had it before. Avoid spicy foods and take over-the-counter antacids like Tums.

Is it safe to take antacids while pregnant? Generally speaking, antacids are safe for use during pregnancy. A woman can usually obtain safe products over the counter or ask her doctor for a prescription for severe or persistent symptoms.

What Is The Difference Between Pepcid And Pepcid Ac

Heartburn Remedies And Pregnancy Tums Australia

PEPCID® is an H2 blocker. Both Original Strength and Maximum Strength PEPCID AC® begin to work in 15-30 minutes, and help control acid all day or all night. * Dual Action PEPCID COMPLETE® combines an H2 blocker with an antacid, so it starts neutralizing acid in seconds, but has the long-lasting relief of an H2 blocker.

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